UGC NET 2018: Sikh students allowed to wear 'Kara', carry 'Kirpan'

New Delhi : The Delhi High Court on Thursday ruled that Sikh candidates will be allowed to wear Kara (iron bracelet) and Kirpan (dagger) during the National Eligibility Test (NET) 2018 examination.

The permission has been granted with a condition that the Sikh candidate will be required to report the examination centre 1 hour before the scheduled reporting time for scanning.

Last year, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had requested the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to allow Sikh students to wear ‘kara’ and the ‘kirpan’ in Amritsar. They had explained the significance of the religious symbols of the Sikh community in 2017.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) would hold the NET on July 8, 2018. The exam will be conducted on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC) for eligibility for assistant professor and junior research fellowship.